diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.spec.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..93164d3a518c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+import {A11yModule, CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE} from './index';
+import {AriaDescriber, MESSAGES_CONTAINER_ID} from './aria-describer';
+import {async, ComponentFixture, TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
+import {Component, ElementRef, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
+
+describe('AriaDescriber', () => {
+  let ariaDescriber: AriaDescriber;
+  let component: TestApp;
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<TestApp>;
+
+  beforeEach(async(() => {
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      imports: [A11yModule],
+      declarations: [TestApp],
+      providers: [AriaDescriber],
+    }).compileComponents();
+  }));
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestApp);
+    component = fixture.componentInstance;
+    ariaDescriber = component.ariaDescriber;
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    ariaDescriber.ngOnDestroy();
+  });
+
+  it('should initialize without the message container', () => {
+    expect(getMessagesContainer()).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to create a message element', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+  });
+
+  it('should not register empty strings', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, '');
+    expect(getMessageElements()).toBe(null);
+  });
+
+  it('should de-dupe a message registered multiple times', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element3, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+    expectMessage(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    expectMessage(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    expectMessage(component.element3, 'My Message');
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to register multiple messages', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'First Message');
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element2, 'Second Message');
+    expectMessages(['First Message', 'Second Message']);
+    expectMessage(component.element1, 'First Message');
+    expectMessage(component.element2, 'Second Message');
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to unregister messages', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+
+    // Register again to check dedupe
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+
+    // Unregister one message and make sure the message is still present in the container
+    ariaDescriber.removeDescription(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    expect(component.element1.hasAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE)).toBeFalsy();
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+
+    // Unregister the second message, message container should be gone
+    ariaDescriber.removeDescription(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    expect(component.element2.hasAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE)).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(getMessagesContainer()).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to unregister messages while having others registered', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'Persistent Message');
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['Persistent Message', 'My Message']);
+
+    // Register again to check dedupe
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element3, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['Persistent Message', 'My Message']);
+
+    // Unregister one message and make sure the message is still present in the container
+    ariaDescriber.removeDescription(component.element2, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['Persistent Message', 'My Message']);
+
+    // Unregister the second message, message container should be gone
+    ariaDescriber.removeDescription(component.element3, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['Persistent Message']);
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to append to an existing list of aria describedby', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element4, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+    expectMessage(component.element4, 'My Message');
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to handle multiple regisitrations of the same message to an element', () => {
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    ariaDescriber.describe(component.element1, 'My Message');
+    expectMessages(['My Message']);
+    expectMessage(component.element1, 'My Message');
+  });
+});
+
+function getMessagesContainer() {
+  return document.querySelector(`#${MESSAGES_CONTAINER_ID}`);
+}
+
+function getMessageElements(): Node[] | null {
+  const messagesContainer = getMessagesContainer();
+  if (!messagesContainer) { return null; }
+
+  return messagesContainer ?  Array.prototype.slice.call(messagesContainer.children) : null;
+}
+
+/** Checks that the messages array matches the existing created message elements. */
+function expectMessages(messages: string[]) {
+  const messageElements = getMessageElements();
+  expect(messageElements).toBeDefined();
+
+  expect(messages.length).toBe(messageElements!.length);
+  messages.forEach((message, i) => {
+    expect(messageElements![i].textContent).toBe(message);
+  });
+}
+
+/** Checks that an element points to a message element that contains the message. */
+function expectMessage(el: Element, message: string) {
+  const ariaDescribedBy = el.getAttribute('aria-describedby');
+  expect(ariaDescribedBy).toBeDefined();
+
+  const cdkDescribedBy = el.getAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE);
+  expect(cdkDescribedBy).toBeDefined();
+
+  const messages = ariaDescribedBy!.split(' ').map(referenceId => {
+    const messageElement = document.querySelector(`#${referenceId}`);
+    return messageElement ? messageElement.textContent : '';
+  });
+
+  expect(messages).toContain(message);
+}
+
+@Component({
+  template: `
+    <div #element1></div>
+    <div #element2></div>
+    <div #element3></div>
+    <div #element4 aria-describedby="existing-aria-describedby1 existing-aria-describedby2"></div>
+  `,
+})
+class TestApp {
+  @ViewChild('element1') _element1: ElementRef;
+  get element1(): Element { return this._element1.nativeElement; }
+
+  @ViewChild('element2') _element2: ElementRef;
+  get element2(): Element { return this._element2.nativeElement; }
+
+  @ViewChild('element3') _element3: ElementRef;
+  get element3(): Element { return this._element3.nativeElement; }
+
+  @ViewChild('element4') _element4: ElementRef;
+  get element4(): Element { return this._element4.nativeElement; }
+
+
+  constructor(public ariaDescriber: AriaDescriber) { }
+}
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cf8e7df13aa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-describer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
+ */
+
+import {Injectable, Optional, SkipSelf} from '@angular/core';
+import {Platform} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
+import {addAriaReferencedId, getAriaReferenceIds, removeAriaReferencedId} from './aria-reference';
+
+/**
+ * Interface used to register message elements and keep a count of how many registrations have
+ * the same message and the reference to the message element used for the aria-describedby.
+ */
+export interface RegisteredMessage {
+  messageElement: Element;
+  referenceCount: number;
+}
+
+/** ID used for the body container where all messages are appended. */
+export const MESSAGES_CONTAINER_ID = 'cdk-describedby-message-container';
+
+/** ID prefix used for each created message element. */
+export const CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_ID_PREFIX = 'cdk-describedby-message';
+
+/** Attribute given to each host element that is described by a message element. */
+export const CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE = 'cdk-describedby-host';
+
+/** Global incremental identifier for each registered message element. */
+let nextId = 0;
+
+/** Global map of all registered message elements that have been placed into the document. */
+const messageRegistry = new Map<string, RegisteredMessage>();
+
+/** Container for all registered messages. */
+let messagesContainer: HTMLElement | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Utility that creates visually hidden elements with a message content. Useful for elements that
+ * want to use aria-describedby to further describe themselves without adding additional visual
+ * content.
+ * @docs-private
+ */
+@Injectable()
+export class AriaDescriber {
+  constructor(private _platform: Platform) { }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds to the host element an aria-describedby reference to a hidden element that contains
+   * the message. If the same message has already been registered, then it will reuse the created
+   * message element.
+   */
+  describe(hostElement: Element, message: string) {
+    if (!this._platform.isBrowser || !`${message}`.trim()) { return; }
+
+    if (!messageRegistry.has(message)) {
+      createMessageElement(message);
+    }
+
+    if (!isElementDescribedByMessage(hostElement, message)) {
+      addMessageReference(hostElement, message);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Removes the host element's aria-describedby reference to the message element. */
+  removeDescription(hostElement: Element, message: string) {
+    if (!this._platform.isBrowser || !`${message}`.trim()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isElementDescribedByMessage(hostElement, message)) {
+      removeMessageReference(hostElement, message);
+    }
+
+    if (messageRegistry.get(message)!.referenceCount === 0) {
+      deleteMessageElement(message);
+    }
+
+    if (messagesContainer!.childNodes.length === 0) {
+      deleteMessagesContainer();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Unregisters all created message elements and removes the message container. */
+  ngOnDestroy() {
+    if (!this._platform.isBrowser) { return; }
+
+    const describedElements = document.querySelectorAll(`[${CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE}]`);
+    for (let i = 0; i < describedElements.length; i++) {
+      removeCdkDescribedByReferenceIds(describedElements[i]);
+      describedElements[i].removeAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE);
+    }
+
+    if (messagesContainer) {
+      deleteMessagesContainer();
+    }
+
+    messageRegistry.clear();
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new element in the visually hidden message container element with the message
+ * as its content and adds it to the message registry.
+ */
+function createMessageElement(message: string) {
+  const messageElement = document.createElement('div');
+  messageElement.setAttribute('id', `${CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_ID_PREFIX}-${nextId++}`);
+  messageElement.appendChild(document.createTextNode(message)!);
+
+  if (!messagesContainer) { createMessagesContainer(); }
+  messagesContainer!.appendChild(messageElement);
+
+  messageRegistry.set(message, {messageElement, referenceCount: 0});
+}
+
+/** Deletes the message element from the global messages container. */
+function deleteMessageElement(message: string) {
+  const messageElement = messageRegistry.get(message)!.messageElement;
+  messagesContainer!.removeChild(messageElement);
+  messageRegistry.delete(message);
+}
+
+/** Creates the global container for all aria-describedby messages. */
+function createMessagesContainer() {
+  messagesContainer = document.createElement('div');
+
+  messagesContainer.setAttribute('id', MESSAGES_CONTAINER_ID);
+  messagesContainer.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+  messagesContainer.style.display = 'none';
+  document.body.appendChild(messagesContainer);
+}
+
+/** Deletes the global messages container. */
+function deleteMessagesContainer() {
+  document.body.removeChild(messagesContainer!);
+  messagesContainer = null;
+}
+
+/** Removes all cdk-describedby messages that are hosted through the element. */
+function removeCdkDescribedByReferenceIds(element: Element) {
+  // Remove all aria-describedby reference IDs that are prefixed by CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_ID_PREFIX
+  const originalReferenceIds = getAriaReferenceIds(element, 'aria-describedby')
+      .filter(id => id.indexOf(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_ID_PREFIX) != 0);
+  element.setAttribute('aria-describedby', originalReferenceIds.join(' '));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Adds a message reference to the element using aria-describedby and increments the registered
+ * message's reference count.
+ */
+function addMessageReference(element: Element, message: string) {
+  const registeredMessage = messageRegistry.get(message)!;
+
+  // Add the aria-describedby reference and set the describedby_host attribute to mark the element.
+  addAriaReferencedId(element, 'aria-describedby', registeredMessage.messageElement.id);
+  element.setAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE, '');
+
+  registeredMessage.referenceCount++;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Removes a message reference from the element using aria-describedby and decrements the registered
+ * message's reference count.
+ */
+function removeMessageReference(element: Element, message: string) {
+  const registeredMessage = messageRegistry.get(message)!;
+  registeredMessage.referenceCount--;
+
+  removeAriaReferencedId(element, 'aria-describedby', registeredMessage.messageElement.id);
+  element.removeAttribute(CDK_DESCRIBEDBY_HOST_ATTRIBUTE);
+}
+
+/** Returns true if the element has been described by the provided message ID. */
+function isElementDescribedByMessage(element: Element, message: string) {
+  const referenceIds = getAriaReferenceIds(element, 'aria-describedby');
+  const messageId = messageRegistry.get(message)!.messageElement.id;
+
+  return referenceIds.indexOf(messageId) != -1;
+}
+
+/** @docs-private */
+export function ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER_FACTORY(
+    parentDispatcher: AriaDescriber, platform: Platform) {
+  return parentDispatcher || new AriaDescriber(platform);
+}
+
+/** @docs-private */
+export const ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER = {
+  // If there is already an AriaDescriber available, use that. Otherwise, provide a new one.
+  provide: AriaDescriber,
+  deps: [
+    [new Optional(), new SkipSelf(), AriaDescriber],
+    Platform
+  ],
+  useFactory: ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER_FACTORY
+};
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.spec.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..849bafb561e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import {addAriaReferencedId, getAriaReferenceIds, removeAriaReferencedId} from './aria-reference';
+
+describe('AriaReference', () => {
+  let testElement: HTMLElement | null;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    testElement = document.createElement('div');
+    document.body.appendChild(testElement);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    document.body.removeChild(testElement!);
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to append/remove aria reference IDs', () => {
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_1');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', ['reference_1']);
+
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_2');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', ['reference_1', 'reference_2']);
+
+    removeAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_1');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', ['reference_2']);
+
+    removeAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_2');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', []);
+  });
+
+  it('should trim whitespace when adding/removing reference IDs', () => {
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', '    reference_1   ');
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', '    reference_2   ');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', ['reference_1', 'reference_2']);
+
+    removeAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', '   reference_1   ');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', ['reference_2']);
+
+    removeAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', '   reference_2   ');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', []);
+  });
+
+  it('should ignore empty string', () => {
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', '  ');
+    expectIds('aria-describedby', []);
+  });
+
+  it('should not add the same reference id if it already exists', () => {
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_1');
+    addAriaReferencedId(testElement!, 'aria-describedby', 'reference_1');
+    expect(['reference_1']);
+  });
+
+  it('should retrieve ids that are deliminated by extra whitespace', () => {
+    testElement!.setAttribute('aria-describedby', 'reference_1      reference_2');
+    expect(getAriaReferenceIds(testElement!, 'aria-describedby'))
+        .toEqual(['reference_1', 'reference_2']);
+  });
+
+  /**
+   * Expects the equal array from getAriaReferenceIds and a space-deliminated list from
+   * the actual element attribute. If ids is empty, assumes the element should not have any
+   * value
+   */
+  function expectIds(attr: string, ids: string[]) {
+    expect(getAriaReferenceIds(testElement!, attr)).toEqual(ids);
+    expect(testElement!.getAttribute(attr)).toBe(ids.length ? ids.join(' ') : '');
+  }
+});
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4202890a95bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/aria-reference.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
+ */
+
+/** IDs are deliminated by an empty space, as per the spec. */
+const ID_DELIMINATOR = ' ';
+
+/**
+ * Adds the given ID to the specified ARIA attribute on an element.
+ * Used for attributes such as aria-labelledby, aria-owns, etc.
+ */
+export function addAriaReferencedId(el: Element, attr: string, id: string) {
+  const ids = getAriaReferenceIds(el, attr);
+  if (ids.some(existingId => existingId.trim() == id.trim())) { return; }
+  ids.push(id.trim());
+
+  el.setAttribute(attr, ids.join(ID_DELIMINATOR));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Removes the given ID from the specified ARIA attribute on an element.
+ * Used for attributes such as aria-labelledby, aria-owns, etc.
+ */
+export function removeAriaReferencedId(el: Element, attr: string, id: string) {
+  const ids = getAriaReferenceIds(el, attr);
+  const filteredIds = ids.filter(val => val != id.trim());
+
+  el.setAttribute(attr, filteredIds.join(ID_DELIMINATOR));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Gets the list of IDs referenced by the given ARIA attribute on an element.
+ * Used for attributes such as aria-labelledby, aria-owns, etc.
+ */
+export function getAriaReferenceIds(el: Element, attr: string): string[] {
+  // Get string array of all individual ids (whitespace deliminated) in the attribute value
+  return (el.getAttribute(attr) || '').match(/\S+/g) || [];
+}
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/public_api.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/public_api.ts
index 2d327ccc0a20..588e73a804c4 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/public_api.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/public_api.ts
@@ -7,24 +7,32 @@
  */
 
 import {NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-import {FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
+import {FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
 import {LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER} from './live-announcer';
 import {InteractivityChecker} from './interactivity-checker';
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 import {PlatformModule} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
+import {AriaDescriber, ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER} from './aria-describer';
 
 @NgModule({
   imports: [CommonModule, PlatformModule],
   declarations: [FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective],
   exports: [FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective],
-  providers: [InteractivityChecker, FocusTrapFactory, LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER]
+  providers: [
+    InteractivityChecker,
+    FocusTrapFactory,
+    AriaDescriber,
+    LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER,
+    ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER
+  ]
 })
 export class A11yModule {}
 
-export * from './live-announcer';
+export * from './activedescendant-key-manager';
+export * from './aria-describer';
 export * from './fake-mousedown';
+export * from './focus-key-manager';
 export * from './focus-trap';
 export * from './interactivity-checker';
 export * from './list-key-manager';
-export * from './activedescendant-key-manager';
-export * from './focus-key-manager';
+export * from './live-announcer';
diff --git a/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.html b/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.html
index b53bcb4ffa08..32845a31bf0f 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.html
+++ b/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.html
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+<button *ngFor="let tooltip of tooltips" mdTooltip="Tooltip message">Tooltip Button</button>
+<button (click)="tooltips.push(null)">Add tooltip</button>
+<button (click)="tooltips.shift()" [disabled]="tooltips.length == 0">Remove tooltip</button>
+
 <div class="demo-tooltip">
   <h1>Tooltip Demo</h1>
 
@@ -29,7 +33,7 @@ <h1>Tooltip Demo</h1>
   </p>
   <p>
     <strong>Message: </strong>
-    <md-form-field><input mdInput type="text" [(ngModel)]="message"></md-form-field>
+    <md-form-field><input mdInput [(ngModel)]="message"></md-form-field>
   </p>
 
   <p>
diff --git a/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.ts b/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.ts
index 44801dd490f3..95b79d9f49b9 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.ts
+++ b/src/demo-app/tooltip/tooltip-demo.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {TooltipPosition} from '@angular/material';
 export class TooltipDemo {
   position: TooltipPosition = 'below';
   message: string = 'Here is the tooltip';
+  tooltips: string[] = [];
   disabled = false;
   showDelay = 0;
   hideDelay = 1000;
diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/index.ts b/src/lib/tooltip/index.ts
index 1fa88320c3e2..f16ad06caff9 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/index.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {OverlayModule} from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
 import {PlatformModule} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {MdCommonModule} from '../core';
 import {MdTooltip, TooltipComponent, MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER} from './tooltip';
+import {A11yModule, ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 
 
 @NgModule({
@@ -19,12 +20,13 @@ import {MdTooltip, TooltipComponent, MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER} from '
     CommonModule,
     OverlayModule,
     MdCommonModule,
-    PlatformModule
+    PlatformModule,
+    A11yModule,
   ],
   exports: [MdTooltip, TooltipComponent, MdCommonModule],
   declarations: [MdTooltip, TooltipComponent],
   entryComponents: [TooltipComponent],
-  providers: [MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER],
+  providers: [MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER, ARIA_DESCRIBER_PROVIDER],
 })
 export class MdTooltipModule {}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
index 56bf51ceab75..5359617aebcd 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
@@ -35,3 +35,9 @@ which both accept a number in milliseconds to delay before applying the display
 
 To turn off the tooltip and prevent it from showing to the user, use the `mdTooltipDisabled` input flag.
 
+### Accessibility
+
+Elements with the `mdTooltip` will add an `aria-describedby` label that provides a reference
+to a visually hidden element containing the tooltip's message. This provides screenreaders the
+information needed to read out the tooltip's contents when the end-user focuses on the element
+triggering the tooltip.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
index cb451e3807e6..a251597ddc52 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,13 @@ import {
   TestBed,
   tick
 } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import {ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, DebugElement, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
+import {
+  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
+  Component,
+  DebugElement,
+  ElementRef,
+  ViewChild
+} from '@angular/core';
 import {AnimationEvent} from '@angular/animations';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
@@ -32,7 +38,12 @@ describe('MdTooltip', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [MdTooltipModule, OverlayModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
-      declarations: [BasicTooltipDemo, ScrollableTooltipDemo, OnPushTooltipDemo],
+      declarations: [
+        BasicTooltipDemo,
+        ScrollableTooltipDemo,
+        OnPushTooltipDemo,
+        DynamicTooltipsDemo
+      ],
       providers: [
         {provide: Platform, useValue: {IOS: false, isBrowser: true}},
         {provide: OverlayContainer, useFactory: () => {
@@ -287,6 +298,21 @@ describe('MdTooltip', () => {
       expect(overlayContainerElement.textContent).toBe('');
     }));
 
+    it('should have an aria-described element with the tooltip message', () => {
+      const dynamicTooltipsDemoFixture = TestBed.createComponent(DynamicTooltipsDemo);
+      const dynamicTooltipsComponent = dynamicTooltipsDemoFixture.componentInstance;
+
+      dynamicTooltipsComponent.tooltips = ['Tooltip One', 'Tooltip Two'];
+      dynamicTooltipsDemoFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const buttons = dynamicTooltipsComponent.getButtons();
+      const firstButtonAria = buttons[0].getAttribute('aria-describedby');
+      expect(document.querySelector(`#${firstButtonAria}`)!.textContent).toBe('Tooltip One');
+
+      const secondButtonAria = buttons[1].getAttribute('aria-describedby');
+      expect(document.querySelector(`#${secondButtonAria}`)!.textContent).toBe('Tooltip Two');
+    });
+
     it('should not try to dispose the tooltip when destroyed and done hiding', fakeAsync(() => {
       tooltipDirective.show();
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -403,6 +429,13 @@ describe('MdTooltip', () => {
       expect(tooltipWrapper).toBeTruthy('Expected tooltip to be shown.');
       expect(tooltipWrapper.getAttribute('dir')).toBe('rtl', 'Expected tooltip to be in RTL mode.');
     }));
+
+    it('should be able to set the tooltip message as a number', fakeAsync(() => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.message = 100;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(tooltipDirective.message).toBe('100');
+    }));
   });
 
   describe('scrollable usage', () => {
@@ -516,7 +549,7 @@ describe('MdTooltip', () => {
 })
 class BasicTooltipDemo {
   position: string = 'below';
-  message: string = initialTooltipMessage;
+  message: any = initialTooltipMessage;
   showButton: boolean = true;
   showTooltipClass = false;
   @ViewChild(MdTooltip) tooltip: MdTooltip;
@@ -565,3 +598,22 @@ class OnPushTooltipDemo {
   position: string = 'below';
   message: string = initialTooltipMessage;
 }
+
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'app',
+  template: `
+    <button *ngFor="let tooltip of tooltips"
+            [mdTooltip]="tooltip">
+      Button {{tooltip}}
+    </button>`,
+})
+class DynamicTooltipsDemo {
+  tooltips: Array<string> = [];
+
+  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+
+  getButtons() {
+    return this._elementRef.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('button');
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
index 1a4f1d699afe..1544fa0bcaad 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ import {
   ScrollStrategy,
 } from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
 import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '@angular/cdk/coercion';
+import {ESCAPE} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
+import {AriaDescriber} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 
 
 export type TooltipPosition = 'left' | 'right' | 'above' | 'below' | 'before' | 'after';
@@ -77,8 +79,6 @@ export const MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER = {
   deps: [Overlay],
   useFactory: MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER_FACTORY
 };
-
-
 /**
  * Directive that attaches a material design tooltip to the host element. Animates the showing and
  * hiding of a tooltip provided position (defaults to below the element).
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ export const MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY_PROVIDER = {
   selector: '[md-tooltip], [mdTooltip], [mat-tooltip], [matTooltip]',
   host: {
     '(longpress)': 'show()',
+    '(focus)': 'show()',
+    '(blur)': 'hide(0)',
+    '(keydown)': '_handleKeydown($event)',
     '(touchend)': 'hide(' + TOUCHEND_HIDE_DELAY + ')',
   },
   exportAs: 'mdTooltip',
@@ -144,8 +147,14 @@ export class MdTooltip implements OnDestroy {
   /** The message to be displayed in the tooltip */
   @Input('mdTooltip') get message() { return this._message; }
   set message(value: string) {
-    this._message = value;
-    this._setTooltipMessage(this._message);
+    if (this._message) {
+      this._ariaDescriber.removeDescription(this._elementRef.nativeElement, this._message);
+    }
+
+    // If the message is not a string (e.g. number), convert it to a string and trim it.
+    this._message = value ? `${value}`.trim() : '';
+    this._updateTooltipMessage();
+    this._ariaDescriber.describe(this._elementRef.nativeElement, this.message);
   }
 
   /** Classes to be passed to the tooltip. Supports the same syntax as `ngClass`. */
@@ -204,6 +213,7 @@ export class MdTooltip implements OnDestroy {
     private _ngZone: NgZone,
     private _renderer: Renderer2,
     private _platform: Platform,
+    private _ariaDescriber: AriaDescriber,
     @Inject(MD_TOOLTIP_SCROLL_STRATEGY) private _scrollStrategy,
     @Optional() private _dir: Directionality) {
 
@@ -229,18 +239,20 @@ export class MdTooltip implements OnDestroy {
       this._enterListener();
       this._leaveListener();
     }
+
+    this._ariaDescriber.removeDescription(this._elementRef.nativeElement, this.message);
   }
 
   /** Shows the tooltip after the delay in ms, defaults to tooltip-delay-show or 0ms if no input */
   show(delay: number = this.showDelay): void {
-    if (this.disabled || !this._message || !this._message.trim()) { return; }
+    if (this.disabled || !this.message) { return; }
 
     if (!this._tooltipInstance) {
       this._createTooltip();
     }
 
     this._setTooltipClass(this._tooltipClass);
-    this._setTooltipMessage(this._message);
+    this._updateTooltipMessage();
     this._tooltipInstance!.show(this._position, delay);
   }
 
@@ -261,6 +273,14 @@ export class MdTooltip implements OnDestroy {
     return !!this._tooltipInstance && this._tooltipInstance.isVisible();
   }
 
+  /** Handles the keydown events on the host element. */
+  _handleKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+    if (this._tooltipInstance!.isVisible() && e.keyCode === ESCAPE) {
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.hide(0);
+    }
+  }
+
   /** Create the tooltip to display */
   private _createTooltip(): void {
     let overlayRef = this._createOverlay();
@@ -365,11 +385,11 @@ export class MdTooltip implements OnDestroy {
   }
 
   /** Updates the tooltip message and repositions the overlay according to the new message length */
-  private _setTooltipMessage(message: string) {
+  private _updateTooltipMessage() {
     // Must wait for the message to be painted to the tooltip so that the overlay can properly
     // calculate the correct positioning based on the size of the text.
     if (this._tooltipInstance) {
-      this._tooltipInstance.message = message;
+      this._tooltipInstance.message = this.message;
       this._tooltipInstance._markForCheck();
 
       first.call(this._ngZone.onMicrotaskEmpty).subscribe(() => {
@@ -416,7 +436,8 @@ export type TooltipVisibility = 'initial' | 'visible' | 'hidden';
     // Forces the element to have a layout in IE and Edge. This fixes issues where the element
     // won't be rendered if the animations are disabled or there is no web animations polyfill.
     '[style.zoom]': '_visibility === "visible" ? 1 : null',
-    '(body:click)': 'this._handleBodyInteraction()'
+    '(body:click)': 'this._handleBodyInteraction()',
+    'aria-hidden': 'true',
   }
 })
 export class TooltipComponent {